Salish Ponds Wetlands Trail
21500 Northeast Halsey Street, Fairview, OR, USA
All Days, Dawn to Dusk
$
run, hikes
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Salish Ponds Wetlands Trail is an unexpected gem tucked away in Fairview, Oregon.
The trail is a 1.7-mile loop, explores a small wetland preserve, and is made of a flat, hard-packed gravel trail. It is ADA Accessible and great for wheelchairs and strollers. There are benches and a fishing platform along the trail. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to enjoy views of Oregon Ash, Black Cottonwood, Oregon White Oak, Douglas-fir, Western Red-cedar, Hazel, Vine Maple, and Willow Trees, as well as Teasels and Cattails.
There is no official trailhead or parking lot within Salish Ponds Wetland Park; however, the loop trail is accessible from several areas and local trails. Target’s parking lot and Reynold’s Elementary School are the two most popular access points. Regardless of where you choose to begin your journey, there are several trail markers along the way that include small images of maps, making them easy to follow.
I find it easiest to access from Target’s parking lot as there is no school schedule and traffic to be mindful of. Plug this Target address into your GPS, “21500 NE Halsey St, Fairview, OR 97024.” As you enter the parking lot and face Target, head to the far upper right corner of the lot and park there. You will see a marked trailhead sign that says “Welcome to Salish Ponds Trail” that includes a map.
From here, Salish Ponds Trail will lead you along a hard-packed gravel path and underneath a set of tunnels beneath a Parkway and into Salish Ponds Wetlands Park. Eventually, this trail intersects East Pond Trail, where the loop begins, so you may go right or left knowing that either direction brings you back to this intersection. Again, there is the opportunity for birdwatching and wandering up close to the pond along the way. Just as you pass a trail leading up to an apartment complex, you will find a path leading out to a small dock where your kiddos will be delighted to see the ducks swimming around.
Porta potties can be found along the trail; alternatively, you can use the restrooms inside of Target to access a changing table.
If you’d prefer to access the trail from Reynold’s Elementary School, you can get more information from Oregon Hiker’s Guide here. This route will extend the total distance to 2.8 miles along a reverse lollipop loop.